Kenya Akadero Mountains × Maasai Mara Safari

Akagyuro Mountain separates Amboseli and Tsavo and is one of the youngest active volcanoes in the world. It last erupted in 1856. The landscape is characterized by lush green hills covered with dense cloud forests. The lower slopes are home to eland, giraffe, elephant and buffalo, while deep in the hills are flocks of birds. The populations of lions and black rhinos are also gradually recovering, and you can visit it on foot or on horseback. It is still one of Kenya’s sparsely visited national parks, but it has first-class accommodation, such as Ol Donyo Lodge.

The Maasai Mara is almost a must-visit place in Kenya, and the Maasai Mara National Reserve is Kenya’s flagship reserve. You are almost guaranteed to see four of the Big Five in Africa. Rhinos are not easy to see, but they can sometimes be found in the Mara Triangle. This reserve is one of the best reserves for big cats, but there are also small carnivores such as black-backed foxwolves or spotted hyenas. Various antelopes, buffalo, elephants and giraffes are also relatively easy to spot. The Masai Mara is home to approximately 95 species of mammals, amphibians and reptiles, as well as more than 400 species of birds. It has one of the highest concentrations of lions in the world and is known as the “Kingdom of Lions”. It is also a paradise for photographers and naturalists.

Composed of the former Motorogi Conservancy and Olare-Orok Conservancies, Olare-Orok Conservancy was established in 2006 and is owned by 277 property owners and has become a blueprint for other concessions and community conservation in the Masai Mara. It also offers excellent wildlife viewing (plenty of lions and elephants), with occasional sightings of wild dogs and rhinos, and is home to the famous Enkoyanai Pride. It also has one of the highest concentrations of animals and the lowest tourist density in the Masai Mara.

Naposio Reserve was established on March 28, 2010. It is located in the north of the Masai Mara National Reserve. It is the second largest reserve in the Masai Mara ecosystem and is owned by 500 owners. This emerging private reserve camp has a small number of hotels and strictly monitors the number of visitors entering the area, reducing the number of vehicles and human impact on the environment and wildlife. However, the concentration of wildlife here is high, with large numbers of big cats and wildebeest, elephants and giraffes.

Hotel: Hemingways Nairobi

Rooms: 45, including Hemingway Suite, Blisson Suite, 19 executive rooms and 24 deluxe rooms.

Selling Points: A member of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World (SLH); offering stunning views of the nearby Ngong Mountains; equipped with swimming pools, spas and other facilities; and convenient access to surrounding popular attractions.

Location: Located in Karen District, Nairobi, it is about a 40-minute drive from Nairobi International Airport and a 20-minute drive from Nairobi Domestic Airport.

Hotel: Donyo Lodge

Rooms: 9, one of which is a two-bedroom suite.

Selling Points: A member hotel of Relais & Châteaux; on the slopes of Akadero Mountain, surrounded by wilderness landscapes; a romantic starry sky bed; a variety of activity experiences; and secret photography.

Activities: off-road vehicle safari; horseback riding; jungle walking; bicycle riding; 15-minute helicopter experience; hidden photography appreciation; fitness and other helicopter tours, SPA treatments, etc. for an additional fee.

Location: Located between Tsavo National Park and Amboseli National Park in Kenya, it is about an hour’s flight from Nairobi to the nearby airport, and then a 30-minute drive to the hotel.

Rooms: 4 tent rooms.

Selling points: Collection member hotel; private luxury tent opened after renovation in July 2024; riverside location, each room is in the tree canopy, surrounded by abundant wildlife; free use of cameras and lenses; private dinner under the stars or on the balcony; you can go to the Masai Mara National Reserve and the Northern Mara Reserve for safari tours at the same time.

Activities: off-road vehicle safari; photography and additional paid hot air balloon tours, etc.

Location: Located in the Masai Mara National Reserve, it is about a 45-minute flight from Nairobi to Ol Kiombo airstrip, and then a 45-minute drive to the hotel; it is about a 5-minute drive from the sister camp Mara Plains Camp.

Rooms: 7.

Selling points: Relais & Châteaux member hotel; small and private in the Masai Mara Private Reserve; suitable for honeymoon couples; has a professional guide and provides cameras and lenses; can also go to the Masai Mara National Reserve, Mara North Reserve and Olari Mutoroki Reserve Safari.

Activities: off-road vehicle safaris; photography; community visits; hot air balloon tours for an additional fee, etc.

Location: Located in the Olare Motorogi Conservancy in the Masai Mara, but with easy access to the Masai Mara National Reserve, it takes about an hour to fly to the nearby Olare Orok Airport and then drive to it in about 40 minutes.

Rooms: 4 suites and 1 family suite.

Selling points: Relais & Châteaux member hotel; more activities in the Masai Mara private reserve; suitable for family safari vacation; professional cameras and lenses and Swarovski telescope provided; private Sambuk two-bedroom suite.

Activities: off-road vehicle safari; night safari; photography; community visits and hot air balloon excursions for an additional fee.

Location: Located in the Maasai Marana Posio Reserve, it takes about 45 minutes to fly from Nairobi to the nearby Ol Seki airstrip, and then drive to the hotel in about 40 minutes.